Nonstoichiometric amorphous silicon carbide films as promising antireflection and protective coatings for germanium in IR spectral range

摘要

A technology for preparation of amorphous nonstoichiometric hydrogenated silicon carbide (a-SixC1-x:H) films using the PE-CVD method has been developed. Such films with refractive index n = 1.8-2.1 are suitable to obtain antireflection effect on germanium in the IR spectral region. Single- and two-sided antireflection coatings of Ge enabled to increase its optical transmission up to 65% and 96% in the maximum transmission, respectively. The obtained films have good mechanical properties (H 12 GPa, E = 100 GPa). Presence of Si-C bonds in the a-SixC1-x:H films restricts their range of application to the spectral interval 2.5-10 mu m. The prepared films are uniform in composition and have high adhesion to the substrate. Variation of deposition conditions makes it possible to obtain a-SixC1-x:H films having high hardness and Young's modulus. High deposition rate, optimal optical properties of the a-SixC1-x:H films and good combination of mechanical properties for the Ge/a-SixC1-x:H film structures make them to be promising for practical application as antireflection and protective coatings for germanium.